 Computers differ from mobile phones in their lack of

Compare and Contrast Structure Words portability.

 Computers are unlike mobile phones in their lack of
Compare and contrast structure words portability.
are transition signals which show the
Criteria for comparison/contrast
similarities or differences. Below are some
When making comparisons or contrasts, it is
common examples.
important to be clear what criteria you are
Compare using. Study the following example, which
 Similarly contrasts two people. Here the criteria are
 Likewise
unclear.
 also
 Aaron is tall and strong. In contrast, Bruce is
 both... and...
 not only... but also... handsome and very intelligent.
 neither... nor...
Although this sentence has a contrast transition,
 just like (+ noun) the criteria for contrasting are not the same. The criteria used
 similar to (+ noun) for Aaron are height (tall) and strength (strong). We would
 to be similar (to) expect similar criteria to be used for Bruce (maybe he is short
 to be the same as and weak), but instead we have new criteria,
 to be alike namely appearance (handsome) and intelligence (intelligent).
This is a common mistake for students when writing this type
 to compare (to/with)
of paragraph or essay. Compare the following, which has
much clearer criteria (contrast structure words shown in bold).
Examples
 Aaron and Bruce differ in four ways. The first
 Computers can be used to communicate easily, for example
difference is height. Aaron is tall, while Bruce
via email. Similarly/Likewise, the mobile phone is a
convenient tool for communication. is short. A second difference is strength. Aaron
 Both computers and mobile phones can be used to is strong. In contrast, Bruce is weak. A third
communicate easily with other people. difference is appearance. Aaron, who is
 Just like the computer, the mobile phone can be used to average looking, differs from Bruce, who is
communicate easily with other people.
handsome. The final difference is intelligence.
 The computer is similar to the mobile phone in the way it
can be used for easy communication. Aaron is of average intelligence. Bruce, on the
Contrast other hand, is very intelligent.
 However
Example essay
 In contrast
Below is a compare and contrast essay. This
 In comparison
 By comparison essay uses the point-by-point structure. Click
 On the other hand on the different areas (in the shaded boxes to
 while the right) to highlight the different structural
 whereas
aspects in this essay, i.e. similarities,
 but
 to differ from differences, and structure words. This will
 to be different (from) highlight not simply the paragraphs, but also
 to be dissimilar to the thesis statement and summary, as these
 to be unlike
repeat the comparisons and contrasts contained
Examples in the main body.
 Computers, although increasingly small, are not always easy
to carry from one place to another. However, the mobile
Title: There have been many advances in technology
phone can be carried with ease.
 Computers are generally not very portable, whereas the over the past fifty years. These have revolutionised
mobile phone is. the way we communicate with people who are far
away. Compare and contrast methods of Wechat, and social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
communication used today with those which were
used in the past. In conclusion, methods of communication have greatly
advanced over the past fifty years. While there are some
Before the advent of computers and modern technology,
similarities, such as the forms of communication, there are
people communicating over long distances used traditional
significant differences, chiefly in relation to the speed of
means such as letters and the telephone. Nowadays we have a
communication and the range of communication tools
vast array of communication tools which can complete this
available. There is no doubt that technology will continue to
task, ranging from email to instant messaging and video
progress in future, and the advanced tools which we use
calls. While the present and previous means of
today may one day also become outdated.
communication are similar in their general form,
they differ in regard to their speed and the range of tools The hype around Apple products seems
neverending. The company’s announcement of a
available. new product collects millions of views; people stand
One similarity between current and previous methods of lines in front of Apple stores to get a new
gadget—just to come at the same place twelve
communication relates to the form of communication. In the
months later, longing for a new product. Among the
past, both written forms such as letters were frequently used, company’s recent novelties is the iPhone 6—a newer
in addition to oral forms such as telephone calls. Similarly, and more advanced version of the most popular
phone in the world. However, the previous model—
people nowadays use both of these forms. Just as in the past, iPhone 5s—seemed to have been satisfying people’s
written forms of communication are prevalent, for example needs fine as well. So, what is the difference? Is the
iPhone 6 worth spending extra money on it?
via email and text messaging. In addition, oral forms
are still used, including the telephone, mobile phone, and The most obvious difference is that the new
voice messages via instant messaging services. iPhone has got a bigger and wider display—it is
now 4.7 inches in diagonal, compared to the 4 inches
that its predecessor possessed. The new model has
However, there are clearly many differences in the way we a larger resolution, which is 1334 x 750. The
technology used in the screen is called “Retina HD,”
communicate over long distances, the most notable of which and is known to be one of the best (if not the best)
is speed. This is most evident in relation to written forms of screen technologies, allowing to transfer deep,
saturated, and realistic colors. iPhone 5s had nothing
communication. In the past, letters would take days to arrive
like that in its arsenal. Both phones have
at their destination. In contrast, an email arrives almost strengthened glass covering the display,
instantaneously and can be read seconds after it was sent. In
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
the past, if it was necessary to send a short message, for
example at work, a memo could be passed around the office,
There are at least five million species on Earth, and
which would take some time to circulate. This is different
some scientists believe there could be double that
fromthe current situation, in which a text message can be sent
number. A species is a group of animals that are more
immediately.
like each other than they are like any other group of
animals. They can breed with each other but not with
Another significant difference is the range of communication members of other species. A way of sorting through all
methods. Fifty years ago, the tools available for those species is to organize them by similar properties,
communicating over long distances were primarily the or characteristics. This process is called classification.
telephone and the letter.By comparison, there are a vast The following is a list of properties for each group of
array of communication methods available today. These animals.
include not only the telephone, letter, email and text
messages already mentioned, but also video conferences via Mammals

software such as Skype or mobile phone apps such as

 give birth to their young and feed them with milk.
  have hair on at least part of their body.  species: a group of animals that are more like
 have four limbs with digits ending in claws, nails, each other than they are like any other group of
or hooves (except whales). animals
 breathe with lungs.  property: a special quality of something
 are warm-blooded.  mammal: any of a class of warm-blooded
vertebrates that include human beings and all
other animals that nourish their young with milk
Birds produced by mammary glands and have skin
usually with some hair
 lay eggs with a hard shell.  bird: any of a class of warm-blooded egg-laying
 are covered with feathers. vertebrates with a body covered with feathers
 have a beak. and forelimbs modified as wings
 have two legs.  reptile: any of a group of cold-blooded, air-
 have two wings used for flying (ostriches and breathing vertebrates (such as snakes, lizards,
penguins are flightless). turtles, and alligators) that usually lays eggs and
 have hollow bones. has skin covered with scales or bony plates
 are warm-blooded.  amphibian: any organism that is able to live
both on land and in water; especially, any of a
class of cold-blooded vertebrates (such as frogs
Reptiles and salamanders) that in many respects are
between fishes and reptiles
 lay eggs with leathery shells or give birth to fully-  insect: any of a class of arthropods (such as
formed young. butterflies, true bugs, two-winged flies, bees,
 breathe with lungs. and grasshoppers) with a three-part body clearly
 are covered with scales. divided into head, thorax, and abdomen; three
 have no legs or four legs with clawed toes. pairs of jointed legs; and usually one or two
 are cold-blooded. pairs of wings
 fish: a cold-blooded vertebrate that lives and
breathes in water and typically has a long, scaly,
Amphibians tapering body, limbs developed as fins, and a
vertical tail fin
 lay eggs, usually in a jelly-like mass in water.
 breathe with lungs, gills, and/or their skin.
 have smooth skin without coverings.
 have four legs without claws or nails on toes. What are some examples of mammals?
 are cold-blooded. Here goes:

Insects Humans, gorillas, rats, mice, platypuses, kangaroos, tree

kangaroos, dogs, cats, whales, dolphins, cheetahs, lions,
 have three body parts: head, thorax and tigers, hyenas, wolves, wolverines, hedgehogs, cows,
bats, pigs, monkeys, donkeys, mules, horses, sheep, goat,
abdomen.
deer, moose, antelope, gibbons, porpoises, seals, sea
 have a single pair of antennae on the head.
lions, sea otters, koalas, anteaters, otters, jaguars,
 have three pairs of legs originating from the leopards, elephants, rhinos, hippos, shrews, echidna,
thorax. dingoes, bears, badgers, weasels, squirrels, rabbits,
 often have wings and can fly. hares, hyraxes, naked mole rats, moles, beavers, pikas,
ocelots, chimpanzees, orangutans, lynxes, bobcats,
Fish fishing cats, yaks, bison, buffalo, hogs, boars, meerkats,
pumas, coyotes, foxes, bonobos, and many many more.
 lay eggs without shells in water.
 breathe with gills.
 are covered with scales or smooth, leathery
turkey
skin.
 have fins but no legs or toes.
Bird originating in the Americas with a bald head and neck
 are cold-blooded.
covered with outgrowths; it is raised in captivity for its meat.
VOCABULARY
pheasant

 classification: a systematic arrangement in

groups
Bird originally from Asia and characterized by its long tail; its Large diurnal carnivorous lizard with an elongated head
meat is highly prized. Certain pheasants are raised solely for found in hot regions of Africa, Asia and Australia; there are
hunting. land and aquatic species.

duck iguana

Web-footed aquatic bird spending most of its time on water; Giant lizard found in tropical regions of the Americas and the
the domestic duck is raised for its meat and for the Pacific islands and having a spiny dorsal crest; it lives mainly
production of foie gras. in trees.

guinea fowl crocodile

Wild terrestrial bird with a bald head and horned comb Aquatic and land reptile found in hot regions; it has an
originally from Africa and domesticated in Europe for its elongated head, strong jaws, short legs and a powerful tail.
meat.
alligator
pigeon
Short-legged aquatic reptile found in North America and
Generally grain-eating bird prized for its meat and its keen China; its head is shorter and wider than that of the crocodile.
sense of direction (carrier pigeon).
caiman
goose
Medium-sized aquatic reptile found in Central and South
Web-footed bird of the Northern hemisphere better adapted America; it is less aggressive than the crocodile and the
to land than water; certain species are raised mainly for the alligator.
production of foie gras.
AMPHIBIANS
rooster
common toad
Domestic bird (male of the hen) with a large serrated comb
and a long-plumed tail. Tailless nocturnal insectivorous amphibian usually found on
land and not very adept at jumping; its body is covered with
small outgrowths.
quail
newt
Bird found in fields and meadows and much prized as game;
certain species are domesticated. Amphibian with a flat tail found mainly in freshwater and
usually feeding on insects.
hen
salamander
Domestic fowl (female of the rooster) with a small serrated
comb raised in captivity for its eggs and meat. Nocturnal amphibian, mainly insectivorous, with a tail; there
are land and aquatic species.

chick tree frog

Newly hatched bird covered in down. Small tailless, usually insectivorous amphibian found mostly
in trees near water; its digits are fitted with suction cups.
REPTILES
adhesive disk
boa
Adhesive disk surrounded by a ring; it is located at the
Medium-sized nonvenomous snake found in hot regions of terminal end of the limbs and used for anchoring.
the Americas; it lives mainly in trees or in the water and kills
its prey by strangulation. INSECTS

monitor lizard termite

Social insect that lives in hill colonies; it eats away at wood FISH
with its crushing mouthparts.
Goldfish
shield bug
Chum salmon
Small flat-bodied land insect that stings and sucks, a parasite
of humans, animals and plants; it releases an unpleasant odor Atlantic mackerel
as a defense.

ladybug

Brightly colored round-bodied insect that preys on aphids and

mealybugs.

fly

Stocky insect of drab or metallic coloring and having a

proboscis, two wings and short antennae; there are
numerous species.

ant

Small social insect living in a highly complex colony; it has

developed jaws and might or might not have wings. It
consumes mainly insect pests.

burying beetle

Insect that lays its eggs on dead animals or decomposing

matter, which it buries; the egg cache gives off a strong
musky smell.

furniture beetle

Small insect, common throughout Europe; its larva feeds on

lumber and dead wood.

flea

Extremely small, wingless leaping insect, a parasite of certain

mammals, birds and humans; it stings them to feed off their
blood.

tsetse fly

Stinging African insect, a parasite of mammals, birds and

humans; it is best known for transmitting sleeping sickness.

mosquito

Insect with two wings and long antennae; the female stings
humans and animals to feed off their blood.

louse

Small wingless insect, a parasite of humans, mammals, birds

and certain plants.